Issue with US appliance in NZ

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Issue with US appliance in NZ

1 | 2 | 3

1413 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 556

#2163968 20-Jan-2019 09:03

I was going to say, in my line of work I can get hold of a 1500W stepdown transformer for about $300. But if it's to power a $40 item it probably isn't worth it. Tend to put them in for people who travel a lot, flight attendants etc, when they bring home drastically cheaper products

cyril7

9075 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2499

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2163975 20-Jan-2019 09:12

surfisup1000:
Could always just plug it in and see if it works. If you don't mind the probable chance of it being destroyed.

I bought something from overseas once, which specced just 110v (in the manual and on the case)....but the supplier assured me it works on 240v too. And, it worked just fine.

DO NOT DO THIS!!!!!!

This is a 120v rated element, not a 230v one, you maybe able to run appliances that use switch mode supplies to drop down to a low DC supply on higher supply voltage, but NOT a device like this, it will most likely quickly over heat itself and create both an electrical and a fire hazard.

Cyril

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19071 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16318

Lifetime subscriber

#2163989 20-Jan-2019 09:51

There are sometimes acceptable ways to get around the US differences with certain low-power devices, but not with something that draws more than a kilowatt. The best resolution would be to resell the item, maybe with a small loss, and start over.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Bung

6734 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2927

Subscriber

#2164002 20-Jan-2019 10:44

If it's here already it would probably be classed as an unsafe electrical item and that would rule out selling it here.
andrewNZ has already found an almost identical unit on sale in NZ that runs on correct voltage and is probably cheaper than the Amazon one. That just took a quick search.

richms

29104 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10222

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2164042 20-Jan-2019 12:10

Barry plugged a grilled cheese maker in that was supposed to be 110v to 230. Dont be like Barry.

Richard rich.ms

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
9334 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6203

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2164138 20-Jan-2019 12:41

Azzura:

Back in Canada, I grew up in 200 year old house with old 2 plug wall socket ...third plug, we would just cut em off. House is almost 250 yrs old now lol and no fatalities.

So - no earth pin back 200+ years ago? Simple systems are great.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19071 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16318

Lifetime subscriber

#2164147 20-Jan-2019 12:55

richms:

Barry plugged a grilled cheese maker in that was supposed to be 110v to 230. Dont be like Barry.

How did the heating elements of that thing not burn out? It must be one hell of a well-made toaster!

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19071 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16318

Lifetime subscriber

#2164148 20-Jan-2019 12:56

eracode:

Azzura:

Back in Canada, I grew up in 200 year old house with old 2 plug wall socket ...third plug, we would just cut em off. House is almost 250 yrs old now lol and no fatalities.

So - no earth pin back 200+ years ago? Simple systems are great.

Plug it in the right way, enjoy your gadget. Plug it in the wrong way, die. Uh, how do you tell the right way?

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

richms

29104 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10222

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2164156 20-Jan-2019 13:19

Rikkitic:

How did the heating elements of that thing not burn out? It must be one hell of a well-made toaster!

For burnout on overvoltage you need photonic inductions channel

Richard rich.ms

quickymart

14941 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13956

ID Verified

#2164180 20-Jan-2019 14:27

Rikkitic:
eracode:

Azzura:

Back in Canada, I grew up in 200 year old house with old 2 plug wall socket ...third plug, we would just cut em off. House is almost 250 yrs old now lol and no fatalities.

So - no earth pin back 200+ years ago? Simple systems are great.

Plug it in the right way, enjoy your gadget. Plug it in the wrong way, die. Uh, how do you tell the right way?

One pin is slightly bigger than the other in 2 pin appliances, they can only fit in one way.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19071 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16318

Lifetime subscriber

#2164235 20-Jan-2019 15:14

quickymart:

One pin is slightly bigger than the other in 2 pin appliances, they can only fit in one way.

Not necessarily. That is a recent development.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

debo

309 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 154

#2164292 20-Jan-2019 15:43

You could re-wire the two elements in series as opposed to parallel. Then it will work just fine on 240v.

Behodar

11101 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6092

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2164308 20-Jan-2019 16:09

richms:

Barry plugged a grilled cheese maker in that was supposed to be 110v to 230. Dont be like Barry.

I particularly liked how it had a label saying something like "it will smoke the first time; this is normal", so when it smoked the first time...

quickymart

14941 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13956

ID Verified

#2164389 20-Jan-2019 18:24

Rikkitic:

quickymart:

One pin is slightly bigger than the other in 2 pin appliances, they can only fit in one way.

Not necessarily. That is a recent development.

The plugs were like that at my in-law's house, which was built in the 1910's.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19071 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16318

Lifetime subscriber

#2164396 20-Jan-2019 18:40

I spent my wasted youth in America and unless my memory is even worse than I think, even in the 1960s the power outlets were still two-prong, and the plugs could go in either way.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

1 | 2 | 3